Solar for Schools
Solar for Schools funds, develops, and manages rooftop solar PV installations for primary and secondary schools across seven countries via a Community Benefit Society model. Schools receive solar at no upfront cost in exchange for 25-year asset management and education programme contracts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersBury Saint Edmunds, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Solar for Schools does
Solar for Schools (legal entity: Solar Options for Schools Ltd) is a UK-based for-profit company founded in 2015 that funds, develops, and manages rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) installations for primary and secondary schools across seven countries: the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Spain, Mexico, Colombia, and India. The company is structured around a Community Benefit Society (CBS) that owns the solar assets and raises capital through ethical bonds and crowdfunding, supplemented by debt from Triodos Bank UK (£3M, September 2024) and grant commitments from National Grid (£2.7M, April 2024). Schools receive solar systems at no upfront capital cost in exchange for a 25-year asset management contract that includes the Candle education programme as standard.
The company's core technology is a proprietary seven-module software platform covering Site Selection (a database of every school in operating markets with solar potential estimates), Viability Analysis (financial modelling incorporating solar yield, self-consumption benchmarks, and current cost data), Proposal Generation (automated PowerPoint exports), Project Development (lifecycle project management), Task Management, Funder Management (bondholder and shareholder communications), and Asset Management (live remote PV monitoring). Education delivery is provided through five tiered annual subscription packages (Spark free, Match £590, Candle £890, Lantern £1,590, Sun £2,900) combining digital resources, the Solar Champions mobile app, the Paneliser drag-and-drop solar design tool, hardware kits (Solar Explorer Kits £540-£1,000, Green Job Cards, Energy Appliance Cards), and in-person assemblies, workshops, and CPD sessions. An India-based operations team of approximately 12 staff supports project development, design, and IT across the international footprint.
Revenue is generated through four streams: 25-year asset management fees embedded in CBS contracts (the largest economic driver, with returns flowing to bondholders), tiered education package subscriptions (£590-£2,900 per school per year), hardware sales (£30-£1,000 per item), and professional services including CPD sessions and workshops (£365-£500 per session). Go-to-market combines a self-serve website (school lookup tool, Paneliser, online booking), direct field sales to schools, trusts, councils, and dioceses, school-to-school referrals, MP and councillor advocacy campaigns, and grant-funded partnership channels such as National Grid's Social Contract programme and community energy groups including Burnham and Weston Energy CIC. The company manages 150+ installations across the UK, has engaged 400+ schools worldwide, and has a stated plan to add approximately 30 more schools using the Triodos facility.
Solar for Schools firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Solar for Schools
- Legal name
- Solar Options for Schools Ltd
- Website
- https://solarforschools.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Solar for Schools funds, develops, and manages rooftop solar PV installations for primary and secondary schools across seven countries via a Community Benefit Society model. Schools receive solar at no upfront cost in exchange for 25-year asset management and education programme contracts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Solar for Schools industry classification
Industry- Product category
- School Solar Installation and Energy Education Services
- NAICS
- Solar Electric Power Generation (221114), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Electric Services (4911), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Solar Development & Subscription Management (EUAMAJAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Solar Financing, Leasing & Ownership Platforms (Tax Equity, PPA, Securitization) (EUAMABAJ), Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System) (EUAMABAB), Solar Roofing & Roof-Mounted PV Systems (IMADAFAO), Solar Design, Engineering & Performance Software (PV Modeling, Digital Twins, Monitoring) (EUAMABAH), Solar Workforce, Training & Safety Services (Installer Training, Certification, EHS) (EUAMABAO)
Keywords
Where Solar for Schools is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bury Saint Edmunds
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Solar for Schools business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Asset Management Fees: Schools receive solar panels funded by the Community Benefit Society at no upfront cost. Schools pay ongoing asset management fees as part of 25-year asset management packages that include education programs.
- Education Packages: Tiered annual education packages (Spark, Match, Candle, Lantern, Sun) ranging from free to £2,900 per year, including digital resources, teacher portal, workshops, CPD sessions, and hardware kits.
- CBS Bond Investments: Community Benefit Society raises capital through ethical bonds and crowdfunding, with bondholders receiving returns from school energy savings and feed-in tariffs over the system lifetime.
- Education Resources and Hardware: Sale of Solar Explorer Kits (£600-£1,000), Green Job Cards (£30 per set), Energy Appliance Cards, Solar Ambassador Workbooks (£60 per booklet), and Science Kits.
- CPD and Workshop Sessions: Professional development training sessions on solar, energy and sustainability. Online CPD workshops from £365, in-person sessions from £500.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Free or pay-as-you-go basic access with digital resources |
| Subscription | Annual | Entry-level paid tier with email support |
| Subscription | Annual | Mid-tier with one included workshop and assembly |
| Subscription | Annual | Premium tier with phone support and multiple workshops |
| Subscription | Annual | Enterprise tier with comprehensive support and resources |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels15 records
Solar for Schools product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Solar for Schools funds, develops and manages rooftop solar PV installations on schools at no upfront cost via a Community Benefit Society (CBS) bond and grant-funded model, bundling 25-year asset management with curriculum-linked energy education programmes. The offering is supported by a proprietary software platform covering the full project lifecycle (site selection, viability analysis, proposal generation, project development, task management, funder management, asset monitoring) and tiered education packages, hardware kits, workshops, CPD sessions, a gamified mobile app, and a Solar Ambassador leadership scheme.
Product overview
Solar for Schools is a comprehensive programme that funds, develops, and manages solar panel installations on school rooftops in the UK and internationally. The core service operates through the Solar for Schools Community Benefit Society (CBS), a non-profit model that owns solar installations and provides schools with a 25-year Asset Management package at no upfront cost, which includes the Candle education programme as standard. The offering is underpinned by a proprietary Software Platform with seven modules — Site Selection, Viability Analysis, Proposal Generation, Project Development, Task Management, Funder Management, and Asset Management — that collectively manage the full solar project lifecycle. Educational delivery is provided through five tiered Education Packages (Spark, Match, Candle, Lantern, Sun) offering digital resources, hardware kits (Solar Explorer Kit, Green Job Cards, Energy Appliance Cards), in-person assemblies, workshops, and CPD sessions. The Solar Champions App and its Paneliser tool enable gamified learning and real solar PV system design. The Solar Ambassador Scheme, including the KS3 Solar Ambassador Workbook and ABCD Pledge framework, provides student leadership pathways. A Climate Action Planning Service helps schools meet DfE sustainability requirements. Solar Fusion Batteries are offered as an add-on to maximise energy savings.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Solar for Schools Programme (funded solar PV with 25-year asset management) End-to-end funded rooftop solar PV programme for schools, including site selection, viability analysis, design and procurement, build management, and 25-year remote asset management. The CBS owns and finances the panels; schools pay ongoing asset management fees. Intended for primary and secondary schools, trusts, councils and dioceses.
- Solar for Schools Education Portal Dedicated online portal for teachers and students with curriculum-linked sustainability resources, lesson plans, video libraries, and access to the Student Mobile App, supporting education across all Key Stages.
- Solar Champions App Gamified mobile and web application for students covering solar, energy, electricity, efficiency and the environment. Includes curriculum-linked topics, animations, illustrations, videos, quizzes and leaderboards.
- Education Packages (Spark, Match, Candle, Lantern, Sun) Tiered annual education packages providing digital resources, teacher support, hardware kits, workshops, assemblies and CPD sessions. Spark is free/pay-as-you-go; Match £590; Candle £890; Lantern £1,590; Sun £2,900 per year. Candle is included as standard with CBS asset management contracts.
- Solar Explorer Kit Hands-on experimental kit for learning about solar PV in the classroom, including a solid wood base, detachable solar panel, lamp, light box, propellor box, protractor and translucent/opaque paper sets. Sustainably and ethically made in Germany by Caritas-supported work.
- Green Job Cards (KS1–KS4) Flashcard sets adapted for Key Stages 1–4 showcasing varied careers in the renewable energy and solar industry, with job descriptions, responsibilities, salary ranges and entry qualifications.
- Energy Appliance Cards Set of 21 flashcards showing domestic appliances with their power requirements in Watts, used to teach students about energy consumption and kWh calculations.
- Solar Ambassador Scheme & ABCD Pledge Student-led leadership programme where volunteer students take ownership of energy awareness at their school by delivering assemblies, promoting behaviour change, communicating renewable energy information, and analysing live solar and consumption data through the ABCD Pledge framework.
- Climate Action Planning Service Expert guidance and bespoke activities for schools to develop a Climate Action Plan, including whole-staff CPD or project-based work with School Councils or Eco Groups, focused on curriculum, campus, culture and community.
- CPD Sessions (online and in-person) Professional development training for teachers on solar, energy and sustainability. Online CPD workshops from £365, in-person CPD from £500. Customised to school needs and covering Climate Action Plan writing, curriculum embedding, and live solar data interpretation.
- Assemblies & Workshops Interactive in-school educational sessions covering solar energy, careers in green industries, energy consumption, National Grid, community energy and climate action, tailored to Key Stages 1–5 and linked to the National Curriculum.
- Solar for Schools Software Platform Proprietary software platform comprising seven modules — Site Selection (school database with solar potential estimates), Viability Analysis (financial modelling), Proposal Generation (PowerPoint exports), Project Development (project management), Task Management, Funder Management (bondholder communications), and Asset Management (remote PV system monitoring with live data) — managing the full project lifecycle.
- Solar for Schools Community Benefit Society (CBS) — Ethical Bonds Non-profit community benefit society that owns and manages solar installations on school rooftops. Funded through crowdfunding and ethical bonds, allowing community members and institutions to invest in solar projects while schools benefit at no upfront cost. Returns funded by school energy savings and feed-in tariffs.
- Solar Fusion Batteries Battery storage systems installed alongside solar PV arrays to store surplus midday energy for later use, helping schools maximise savings by reducing reliance on imported grid power or selling stored energy to the local community during peak demand. First deployed at Accrington St Christopher's (20kW inverters, February 2025).
Quantifiable outcome
- Schools typically save £65,500 in 18 months (St Christopher's case study)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Solar for Schools
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Solar for Schools technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature10 records
Solar for Schools partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Burnham and Weston Energy CICcoreCommunity energy organization leading the North Somerset solar project with Solar for Schools. Eight schools receiving nearly £400,000 funding for solar panel installations generating 385,000 kWh annually.
- Earth CubsminorEducation content partnership providing video resources about solar, energy, electricity and sustainability for primary students. National Grid enabled this partnership as part of the social contract program.
- Switch Energy AllianceminorProvides secondary video library with educational content across sustainability, science, geography and more. Content licensed for use in Solar for Schools education resources.
- Busy ThingsminorExclusive discount partnership providing Solar for Schools clients access to curated educational games and activities on energy topics from Busy Things' platform of 1,600+ EYFS and Primary resources.
- BrightSparks4KidsminorCollaboration to offer the BrightSparks-Solar for Schools Renewable Energy Kit. Hands-on kit for teaching renewable energy safely and effectively in outdoor and classroom settings.
- Solar Energy UKminorCollaboration on educator resource pack to help teachers, educators, employees and careers advisors engage young people with the 6 core jobs identified by the Government's Solar Task Force as essential for industry growth.
- Earth Energy EducationminorPartner in creating resources to help teachers and careers advisors engage young people with solar industry careers.
- OASESminorEducation organization providing sustainability education support. Partner through team member Hannah Fishburn who is Senior Project Officer at OASES with specialisms in sustainability education, forest bathing, teacher training and outdoor learning.
- Green Schools ProjectminorRuns Zero Carbon Schools programme supporting hundreds of schools to embed climate education. Partner through Henry Greenwood who founded Green Schools Project in 2015.
- School Energy Efficiency CICminorOrganization with over 250 energy audits with schools. Partner through Richard Smith (Director) and James Veness (co-founder) who provide education and sustainability expertise.
- Energy HeroesminorRecommended energy efficiency program for schools providing more in-depth approach to energy education alongside Solar for Schools content.
- Team RepairminorCommunity repair organization partnership supporting circular economy education and waste reduction initiatives in schools.
- How Bad Are BananasminorCarbon footprint awareness resource partner for education content on environmental impact.
- Darwin200minorPlanetary conservation initiative sailing a historic tallship around the world. University intern Ally Ashworth represented UK as 'Darwin Leader' creating Cape Verde's first green turtle database. Aligns with biodiversity education goals.
- National Education Nature ParkminorGovernment initiative encouraging schools to reconnect with school grounds and improve biodiversity. Cross-promotional partner for biodiversity education resources.
- Eco SchoolsminorInternational environmental education program. Cross-promotional partner for sustainability education resources.
- Let's Go ZerominorUK coalition of schools committed to reaching net zero. Cross-promotional partner for climate action planning resources.
- Transform Our WorldminorEducation platform for climate action planning. Cross-promotional partner for sustainability resources.
- Global Schools Program (UN)minorUnited Nations initiative supporting education for sustainable development. Listed as international partner organization.
Scale indicators15 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Solar for Schools competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Solarcentury (now part of Statkraft): UK-founded solar developer and EPC that built commercial and education-sector solar projects; directly comparable as a UK-headquartered solar installer/developer, though at much larger scale and broader sector focus. The Solar for Schools freelance educator Andy Bodycombe is a former Solarcentury Head of Project Management.
- British Gas / Centrica: UK's largest domestic energy supplier, offering solar PV and battery storage to households and small businesses. Comparable as a UK mass-market solar provider; could in principle bundle solar + education for schools under CSR programmes.
- E.ON UK: Major UK energy supplier with solar installation and battery services for residential and small commercial customers. Comparable in targeting UK schools and institutions for solar under broader energy-supply relationships, though serving a much wider customer base.
- Lightsource BP: Largest UK solar developer, developing utility-scale and distributed solar projects across the UK and internationally. Comparable as a UK-headquartered solar developer operating in the same regulatory and supply environment, though targeting larger commercial and utility customers rather than school-specific sales.
- Octopus Energy: Major UK energy supplier with growing solar installation arm and aggressive green energy marketing. Comparable as a UK-based energy provider offering solar solutions to households and small institutions; materially larger scale and broader portfolio than Solar for Schools' niche.
- EDF Renewables UK: UK subsidiary of EDF Renewables, developing and operating wind, solar and battery projects. Operates in the same UK renewables environment and could plausibly target school rooftop portfolios as part of CSR/decarbonisation programmes.
Direct peers
- Repowering London: UK community energy non-profit that develops community-owned renewable energy projects, often with strong local engagement and education components. Comparable in combining community-financed solar with educational outreach, though focused more on community centres and housing than schools specifically.
- Big Solar Co-op: UK cooperative developing community-owned solar projects including rooftop installations on schools and community buildings. Closest direct comparator in model: community-financed school solar, mission-driven structure, and education integration.
Others
- Green Schools Initiative: US-based non-profit that helps schools implement sustainability programmes including renewable energy and curriculum. Comparable mission overlap (school-focused sustainability education plus decarbonisation), though US-focused and not a solar installer.
- Community Energy England: Trade body representing community energy organisations in England, many of which deploy school rooftop solar as part of community portfolios. Comparable as an ecosystem participant and a network through which Solar for Schools can reach Local Education Authorities and community energy groups.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Solar for Schools social profiles
Digital presenceSolar for Schools financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Solar for Schools leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
Solar for Schools funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Solar for Schools M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Solar for Schools
What does Solar for Schools do?
Solar for Schools funds, develops and manages rooftop solar PV installations on schools at no upfront cost via a Community Benefit Society (CBS) bond and grant-funded model, bundling 25-year asset management with curriculum-linked energy education programmes. The offering is supported by a proprietary software platform covering the full project lifecycle (site selection, viability analysis, proposal generation, project development, task management, funder management, asset monitoring) and tiered education packages, hardware kits, workshops, CPD sessions, a gamified mobile app, and a Solar Ambassador leadership scheme.
Is Solar for Schools a public or private company?
Solar for Schools is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Solar for Schools founded?
Solar for Schools was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Solar for Schools based?
Solar for Schools is headquartered in Bury Saint Edmunds, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Solar for Schools make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Asset Management Fees are the primary driver. The others are education Packages, CBS Bond Investments, education Resources and Hardware and CPD and Workshop Sessions.
Who are Solar for Schools's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Solarcentury (now part of Statkraft), British Gas / Centrica, E.ON UK, Lightsource BP, Octopus Energy and EDF Renewables UK. Direct peers are Repowering London and Big Solar Co-op. Others are Green Schools Initiative and Community Energy England.
Does Solar for Schools have an API?
No public API is recorded for Solar for Schools.
What industry is Solar for Schools in?
Solar for Schools's product category is School Solar Installation and Energy Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMAJAA, Community Solar Development & Subscription Management, with a secondary code of EUAMABAJ, Solar Financing, Leasing & Ownership Platforms (Tax Equity, PPA, Securitization). Its NAICS code is 221114 and its SIC code is 4911.